May 1, 2009

BALTIMORE, Md., May 1 /Maryland Architect e-news , AIA Maryland/ -- Glenn W. Birx, FAIA, LEED AP, BS Arch '80, receives a promotion to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows. His elevation to Fellowship honors Birx's leadership and expertise in the profession of architecture, particularly in the design of colleges and universities worldwide.

Birx grew up in Linthicum, MD, in Anne Arundel County where his father was a residential builder. He attributes his interest in architecture also to his outstanding high school mechanical drafting teacher who pushed him very hard, giving him poor grades initially to motivate him, and ultimately encouraging him to attend architecture school.

Birx began his studies at Virginia Tech, and later moved to the University of Maryland to study architecture in what is now known as the School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. He graduated in 1980. Birx has commented that the combination of studying at both schools has served him very well throughout his career - the former being very design-oriented and the latter offering great technical skill-building. While he was still in architecture school, Birx worked at Clas, Riggs, Owens and Ramos in Silver Spring, MD, and later at Ayers Saint in 1978.

After graduation, Birx joined Ayers Saint which then had only twelve employees compared to 140 today. He now celebrates 31 years with the firm. Since the 1970s and ‘80s, Ayers Saint has designed colleges and universities as well as other types of work. Birx designed The Johns Hopkins University biology building, and worked on a variety of government projects.

In the mid-1980s, the firm became Ayers/Saint/Gross (ASG), and Birx became a Principal. By the late 1980s, it decided to focus on higher education almost exclusively. That now composes 95% of the firm's work. During the past ten years, ASG has taken its expertise in higher education overseas where it has expanded to projects throughout the world.

In additon to the AIA, Birx is a member of the Baltimore County Architectural Review Board, Chairman of the Maryland Architects Political Action Committee, on the Editorial Board of the new Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, and is an appointed member of former Governor Glendening's (Maryland) Task Force on Smart Codes.

The School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation at the University of Maryland is home to four academic disciplines: architecture, urban planning, historic preservation and real estate development. Committed to educating its students and community about the importance of sustainability and smart growth, the School practices an interdisciplinary approach to education, research, creative work, and community and professional service. For more information, please e-mail us or call 301.405.8000.

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